A woman was killed in a crash Thursday on westbound Highway 50 after the car in which she was riding was struck from behind, police said.

The driver of a 2014 Honda Civic, 79-year-old Wesley Rickard, was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Hospital with critical injuries following the wreck, according to a statement from the Placerville division of the California Highway Patrol.

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Paulette Rickard, 76, of Rancho Murieta, died. She was a passenger in the Civic.

Wesley Rickard was traveling about 20 to 25 mph in the slow lane with his hazard lights on, police said.